Alloy fob use in electbic heating



UNITED STATES PATENT FICE,

GEORGE HARRY LOFTS, 0F HOBART, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnome HARRY Lorrs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing and having a post-office address at care of Hydro-electric Department, Elizabeth Street, Hobart, in the State of Tasmania, Commonwealth of Australia, electrical engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Alloy for Use in Electric Heating Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates'to the manufacture of an alloy that I have found especially useful in electric heating appliances for the protection of same. In such appliances a fusible metal has been employed to cut off the power or current in order, for instance, to avoid over-heating.

To be serviceable, such an alloy must possess the property of being easily parted by pressure at a temperature lower than its melting point, that is to say after it has been partially softened by heat. At the present time sticks of lead or an alloy of lead are used but as these melt at low temperatures their use is inconvenient particularly as the molten metal will flow on and adhere to the working parts, thereby clogging the same. 7

It is to avoid these disadvantages that I have devised my invention according to which I form an alloy by the admixture of pure or almost pure zinc with cadmium, which alloy is used as a holding means in a safety cut out for the electric current in electric irons, stoves and other like appliances. To give satisfaction in the circumstances the pin or other device made of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au". 8, 1922.

Application filed September 21, 1920. Serial No. 411,868.

alloy must possess the property of being easily fractured or parted at a temperature lower than its melting point which, however, should be such that at ordinary working temperatures in the articles mentioned the pin or wire will retain its rigidity and will only soften when the safe working temperature is exceeded.

For use with very high temperatures such as are maintained in tailors press irons the proportion of cadmium to zinc will be approximately as 1:99, and for use in ordiheated appliances, safety cut out means have been provided in which, for instance, a pin has been subjected to a steady pressure until the increasing temperature softens it sufiiciently to enable the spring pressure to directly or indirectly part it. it is in such a way that my improved alloy will be used in a safety cut out:

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is An alloy for the purposes indicated that is composed of an admixture of pure or almost pure zinc with cadmium in about the proportions of ninety-six (96%) per cent of zinc to four l%) per cent of cadmium as herein explained.

In witness whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE HARRY LOFTS. 

